Activities for a 1 year old that can be done sitting down

[Snapplepie]

Our 1 y/o DS is going into a spica cast (from his chest to his ankles) for 3 months soon. He's a really active little guy, and tends to entertain himself by exploring. But he won't be able to do this once the cast is on.

I'm trying to get prepared and plan activities/stock up on toys that might keep him entertained. What sit down toys or activities did your kids love?

My one year old enjoys sitting with a little tea set and I cut some different coloured pieces of wool to put in the cups and he likes to stir them with the spoons and tip them out, pick them out and just pass them back and forth etc too.

He also likes flap/slide tab books.

He likes building/stacking blocks too. And knocking them down!

We have a couple of musical instruments like a mini piano and xylophone for him to bash at which could be something for him requiring a bit less focus and to expend a bit more energy/be a bit livelier!

He likes this little dancing man he just received for his birthday which lights up and plays music and he sits and bops along to it.

We also just got him a little car park thing where the little cars go down the slide onto the next slide down a few slides to the bottom - I don’t know what they’re called but lots of toy shops sell them.

We haven’t tried them yet but he also received some jumbo colouring crayons and a colouring book which could be worth a try too. Again he could probably scribble lots fast on a page as a less focused activity too if he likes to be quite physical.

Do you have a tuff spot or similar?

an upside down colander with uncooked spaghetti to poke in the holes keeps them busy for ages.

bowl of uncooked rice or lentils and a wooden spoon for stirring or cups for pouring.

play doh pressings with leaves or pine cones

animal footprint pictures - dip toys feet in the paint and walk them across the paper

Ooh also just thought although we don’t have one, they have those little wooden work bench things with cylinder shapes in holes for them to whack in with a hammer which might be good again for something quite physical/bashy!

You'll probably find that he's actually more mobile than you think. They tend to find ways of getting around. Our OT's provide special chairs with tables. And sometimes bean bags for them to sit on. If you've not already get the widest stroller types pushchair you can get. That has no raised edges round the seat. Also stock up
On coloured duck tape to tidy up the edges of the cast.

Take a look at the STEPS website. They will have loads of tips.

Your little fella might surprise you with how much he can get around. My eldest did 16 weeks in a spica just before turning 1 and has had two stints in an abduction brace since. My youngest has done a few stints in the abduction brace as well.

Peg jigsaws or puzzles, colouring, water play, painting - all manageable at the table. He might drag himself around commando style using his arms, they get very strong. But you can put him down on the floor on his tummy, I used to put a pillow under the top of the cast to prop them up a little. But then they can play with cars/trains, duplo, blocks anything like that.

And TV time of course. My eldest spent 8 weeks immobile in summer 2021 and she spent summer 2019 in a spica. I'm not going to lie, it was really hard. Both for her and for us. But she cycled 5km this morning, not a bother on her and as far as she's concerned the surgeries are a distant memory.

Good luck! He'll amaze you

Forgot one that they can get hours out of - sticker books

God sorry to hear that OP, my little one is currently in a pavlik harness which is bad enough!

Fraid my advice would probably be telly and books - it’s been a while since I had a 1 year old (big age gap) in my defence!

Really good luck ❤️

OP, have you found the STEPS Facebook page (Steps Charity Worldwide) ? Lots of parents with Spica experience.

Good luck!

Thank you so much everyone! Some really great ideas so far! Good to hear from those who have been here that he may be more mobile than we think too! He's a tough little guy so I'm sure he'll adapt!

water pens and water pen doodle mat (no mess), blocks and a container to put them in and out of, toy piano (easier to play than other instruments)

When mine were little they were part of a study using treasure baskets (best entertainment) kept them busy for ages. Google them, very easy to make up with things like
spoons.
scoops.
Egg cup.
Curtain rings.
Dolly peg.
Pieces of material.
Spatula.
Napkin ring.
Tins.
Small wooden bowl or dish.
Ideally you gave them it for one hour with nothing else in eye sight, then hid it away.
Weren't it going after the study and did over time introduce other things.

You'll find wee one is able to be pretty mobile- my son used to crawl commando style in his spica cast & had great fun with his brother doing rolypolies. His was for a broken femur so was fairly sore 1st couple days but after that couldn't stop him!

@BookHermitBlack ooh I've just had a Google of treasure baskets and this is a great idea! Thank you!

@Pinkbananas01 I hope so! I'm a lot more optimistic about his mobility since reading the responses on this thread!

Be grateful that he's still small scourge to be carried. We've had a few eight year olds in them. And the surgeon didn't seem to consider that putting them flat might not be a great idea. We nothing to seat them in. So 4-8 weeks completely bed bound. 😬

Enough

@Toddlerteaplease crikey! That sounds like a challenge! Well done for coping with that! Definitely grateful he's small enough to carry!

@Snapplepie fortunately I didn't have to cope with it. I'm nurse in an orthopaedic ward. And we absolutely loads of hip spicas. We always get cross with that particular surgeon for putting older children in them. Because they just can't go anywhere because we have no wheelchairs to fit them.